Alan Shatter in Mexico, Michael Noonan in Canada and Alex White is off to Russia.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS released details of where governments ministers will be heading for the St Patrick’s Day’s festivities next month with some 28 ministers jetting off to 23 different countries.

These include Social Protection Minister Joan Burton attending events in New York with controversy likely to arise over whether or not she takes part in the St Patrick’s Day parade.

Burton has already indicated she will not participate over the parade’s ban on gay rights slogans.

Some of the other trips include Justice Minister Alan Shatter heading to Mexico, while the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore will be in France, Finance Minister Michael Noonan is going to Canada, and Environment Minister Phil Hogan is going to the United Arab Emirates.

Russia is also back on the St Patrick’s Day agenda for the first time since 2010 with junior health minister Alex White off to the country whose anti-gay propaganda laws have caused controversy in recent months.

Separately, Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be in Boston, New York and Washington DC next month with the traditional bowl of shamrock being handed over to US President Barack Obama at the White House.

The ministers are taking part in what the Department of Jobs is calling the St Patrick’s Day “Promote Ireland” programme with a total of 28 Ministers taking part in over 100 business events and 80 “high-level political meetings” in 23 countries.

Only Education Minister Ruairí Quinn and Minister of State Brian Hayes are not travelling this year.

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